Motor control mechanism for filling devices



Jan. 26, 1943. i F. G. HENRY 2,309,245

MOTOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FILLING DEVICES Filed July 9, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1943.: F. G. HENIQRY 2,309,246

MOTOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FILLING DEVICES Filed July 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. G. HENRY Jan. 26, 1943.

MOTOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FILLING DEVICES Filed July 9, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s Zfirmerdfr:

z 1mnnl gzzam Patented Jan. 26, 1943 MOTOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FILLING DEVICES Ferdinand G. Henry, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 9, 1940, Serial No. 344,596

9 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for automatically starting and stopping electric motors, and more particularly electric motors fordriving one or more of the grinding elements of a coffee mill.

In coffee mills of the type now generally used in self-service and other markets the proper procedure is to first fill the hopper of the mill with the coffee to be ground, then place a bag in the receiving position under the discharge opening and start the motor in operation. After the coffee is ground, the motor is shut off and the filled container is removed from the mill.

It often happens, however, that the operator will fill the hopper with coffee, start the motor and neglect to place a bag or container to receive the same, thereby causing a flow of coffee over the premises. This condition is objectionable, wasteful and unsatisfactory. It also may happen that the operator may remove the container before stopping the motor and, before the entire 1 amount of coffee is ground and delivered, resulting again in objectionable discharge of coffee on the premises. Another objection is the fact that after all proper procedure has been complied with the operator may remove the container and neglect to stop the motor, causing Waste of electricity and unnecessary wear on the moving elements of the mill.

With the foregoing observations in mind the principal object of the present invention is to provide a coffee mill of the type described com- 7 prising means operable to start the motor only after the receiving bag or container has been properly placed in its receiving position beneath the discharge spout of the coffee mill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coffee mill as described having means operable to prevent the removal of a filled or partially filled bag before stopping the motor.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of means operative to start the motor upon placing the ba in its receiving position under the discharge spout and also automatically to stop the motor when the bag or container is removed therefrom upon completion of the grinding operation.

These and other objects of the invention and the various details and features of its construction and operation are hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a coffee mill of the typ described showing its receiving spout provided with certain elements of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the mill illustrating the control members in their operative positions.

Figure 3 is a side view partially in section showing the operative and inoperative position of the control members shown in Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustratin a modified construction of the control members within the scope of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the operation of one of the control members shownin Figures 1, 2 and Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral l0 designates, generally, a coffee mill of conventional type comprising a casing structure H within which is contained the usual coffee grinding elements designated G and electric driving motor M therefor. A recess I2 is shown in the lower right hand front portion of the casing II for the reception of the usual coffee bag 13 and outwardly into this recess I! through an opening M in said casing ll declines a chute or spout l5 through which the ground coffee is discharged from the grinding elements G into said bag l3. Coffee is fed to these grinding elements G by a hopper H.

This discharge chute or spout i5 also extends through an opening formed in a breast plate l6 secured on the rear wall portion [2a of the recess l2 and this plate I6 is provided with forwardly facing bearings or lugs I! located adjacent the opposite side edges of the plate I6 above the level of the aforesaid coffee discharge spout I5. These lugs I! support a shaft or pin It! on which is rotatably mounted a bifurcated member I9 having at its lower extremity an angularly and outwardly offset Weighted portion 20 which functions normally to maintain the said member I!) in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 with the lower portion of said member engaging against the breast plate l6. Also carried by this pin I8 is a cover or closure [5a for the aforesaid discharge chute l 5.

One of the bifurcations of said member H! extends upwardly above the pin l8 and constitutes an arm 2| arranged for operative engagement with the outer end of the plunger 22 of a pilot switch 23. This pilot switch 23 is secured through the rear wall .portion IZct of the recess 12 to the previously mentioned breast plate It, and comprises an insulated body portion 24 to opposite sides of which are secured resilient electric connectors 25.

Adjustably carried by the aforesaid plunger 27 is a collar 26 of dielectric material which has on its outer surface an electric contact ring 21! arranged for simultaneous engagement with the said electric connectors 25 to complete an electric circuit therethrough. The plunger 22 is biased in a direction outwardly of the casing H by means of a spring 28 so that its outer end remains in engagement with arm 2| of the member l9 when the latter is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, and the collar 26 and its ring 21 are secured longitudinally of said plunger 22 so that when the latter is in this outward position the said ring 21 is disengaged from contact with the electrical connectors 2,5so that the electric circuit between the latter is open.

Projecting forwardly into the'recess |2 laterally adjacent the bifurcated member |9 are vertically elongated projections or guides 29 against which the inwardly disposed face of the coffee bag I3 is positioned. Also, when the bag I3 is thus placed in position against these guides 29 the lower portion of the bifurcated member I9 is disposed interiorly o f the said bag with th result that the bag in cooperation with the guides 29 functions to maintain or hold the lower part of the bifurcated member l9 outwardly in the position shown in solid lines in'Figure 3 thereby moving the upper arm portion 2| thereof inwardly and causing inward actuation of the plunger 22 of switch 26 to en a e the ring 21 with connectors 25 thus closing that switch.

' Mounted within the mill casing I by means of a bracket 30 is a toggle switch 3| having the usual switch arm 32. Operation of this switch 3| through its: arm. 32 is'effected by means of a U- shaped lever-. 33 whiehis pivotally mounted upon the aforesaid pin |8 and'arranged to be moved manually between the two positions shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This lever 33 has a transverse handle portion '34 and projecting laterally from the inner leg of said lever 33 is a roller 35 which, in the raised or inoperative position, is arranged to engage a spring clip member 36 whereby the lever is held in that position. Also, when the lever 33 is lowered to operative position this roller 35 engages the casing II and acts as a stop to prevent said lever 33 from being engaged and collapsing the bag l3.

Projecting inwardly of the casing II from the upper end of the inner leg of the lever 33 and movable with the latter is a crank arm 31 which extends into the path of the toggle switch arm 32 and is arranged so that when the lever 33 is lowered the said crank 31 will actuate the toggle switch arm 32 to on position and when raised will actuate the same to "off position( see Figure Interiorly of the mill casing H is a solenoid switch 38 comprising the conventional coil 39and plunger 40, the latter being biased upwardly by a spring 4| and carrying at its upper end a contact ring 42 for engagement between electrical contacts 43, 43 to complete an electric circuit through them, the arrangement being such that when the 'so leniod coil 39 is not energized the spring 4| functions to maintain the plunger 40 in raised position with its ring 42 out of engagement with contacts 43, 43 thereby maintaining the solenoid switch open.

The electrical circuit for controlling and supplying current to the driving motor M and the relation of they severalgswitches' thereto will be clear from Figure 3 of thedrawings wherein it will be seen that the solenoid coil 39 is connected respectively by conductors 44 and 45 to one side of a source of electric power and to one of the contacts 25 of the switch 23 while the other of said contacts 25 is connected by a conductor 46 to the other side of said electric power source. Thus the switch 23 functions only to control energization of the solenoid coil 39.

The switches 3| and 38 on the other hand are directly in the motor circuit and the completion of that circuit is dependent upon the closing of both of said switches. To this end one of the contacts 43 of the solenoid switch 38 is connected by a conductor 41 to one side of the aforesaid source of the electricity and the other of said contacts 43 is connected by a conductor 48 to one of the terminals of the motor M. Likewise, one of the contacts 3|a of the toggle switch 3| is connected by a conductor 49 to the other side of said source of electricity and the other toggle switch contact 3|a is connected by a conductor 50 to the other ter'mi'nalof the said motor M.

Thu it will be observed that in order to start the motor M of the mill it is necessary first to close the switch 23 thereby energizing solenoid coil39 to close switch 38 and then close the toggle switch 3| to finally complete the electric circuit to the said motor M.

Prior to using the mill, the coffee bag l3 will be missing from the recess l2 and the bifurcated member 19 and lever 33 will be inthe' positions shown in dotted lines'inFigure 3 of the drawings, thus the several switches 23, 3| and 38 will all be open and the motor M idle. Now when it is desired to grind coffee in'the mill the cofiee is placed in the usual hopper (not shown) and a coffee bag I3 is positioned'in the recess |2 with theinner wall of said bag |3 interposed between the projections or guides 29 and the bifurcated member [9, thu causing the latter to assume the solid line position shown in Figure 3 thereby actuating theplu ng e'r 22 to close the switch 23, resulting in energization of the solenoid coil 39.

Energization of coil 39 actuates the plunger 49 downwardly against its spring 4| thereby closing switch 33 and partially completing the circuit to the motor M which, however, remains idle until finally the lever 33 is lowered to its operative position thereby actuating the toggle switch 3| to on position to complete the circuit to said motor M which will then start and continue operation until the toggle switch 3| is opened by raising the lever 33.

Thus it will be observed that the coffee bag |3 cannot readily be removed from the recess l2 while the motor is operating and that in order to remove the bag the motor must first be stopped by raisin the lever 33 which i accompanied by opening of the toggle switch'3 On the other hand, it will be seen that if no coffee bag is positioned in the recess l2 the motor cannot be started merely by lowering the frame 33 to close the toggle switch 3| since the presence of a bag is necessary in order to close the switch 23 and in turn close the solenoid switch 38 and thereby complete the circuit "to the motor M. Consequently the mill cannot be operated unless a coffee bag is properly positione'd to receive the cofiee and once the mill is in operation such bag cannot be removed until the mill is stopped.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, and this is quite similar to the form previously described except that in place of witch 23 I provide a pivotal arm 8|) in the recess I2 forwardly of the bifurcated member I9 and on this arm 60 there is mounted an adjustable contact 6| arranged for engagement by said bifurcated member I9 when the latter is moved to its operative position (solid I3 as previously of the lever 33 is arranged to bridge a pair of i contacts 84, 64.

The principal difierence between the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 is primarily in the electrical circuit for whereas, in Figure 3 the solenoid coil 39 i in series with switch 23 and connected across the electric power source at line voltage, in Figure 4 a transformer 65 is introduced in the circuit and has its primary directly across the power source at line voltage,

while the secondary circuit has one side grounded and the other connected to the solenoid 39. Either circuit may be employed as desired, that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 carrying line voltage throughout the system, whereas that shown in Figure 4 carries line voltage through the transformer primary and motor M only, and a reduced secondary voltage through the solenoid 39 and contact 6|.

These structural modifications embodied in.

the device shown in Figure 4 do not, however,

alter the operation and procedure for using the mill, and this modified form of the mill is operable and used just as hereinafter described in connection with the mill shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

Furthermore, if it be desired to render operation of the mill entirely automatic and controlled wholly by the placing of a coffee bag in the casing recess I2, it is pointed out that this can be readily accomplished by eliminating the manually movable lever 33 and the particular switch operated thereby (or by allowing such switch to remain in the device and in circuit closing position at all times). If this is done it will be observed that the proper placing of a coffee bag I3 in the recess I2 will operate, as previously described, to operatively position the bifurcated member I9 thus closing the circuit to the solenoid coil 39 and thereby causing the solenoid switch 38 to close and start the motor M which will continue to run so long as the bag I3 remains in that position. Conversely, when the bag I3 is removed from the recess the motor M will be stopped automatically by movement of the now freed bifurcated member I9 to its inoperative position thus opening its switch causing deenergization of the solenoid coil and, in turn, opening of the solenoid switch in the motor circuit.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended that the said invention be limited to such disclosures but that changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In material handling apparatus comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior sur- 3 face a recess in which a container is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute extending into said recess from the interior of the casing and arranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, a normally open switch in the motor circuit, and means for closing said switch including a member movable into an operative position across said recess and engaging a container therein to prevent removal of the container until said member is moved from said operative position to open said switch and thereby stop the motor.

2. In material handling apparatus comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior surface a recess in which a container is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute extending into the recess from the interior of the casing and arranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, a normally open switch in the motor circuit, energizable means operable to close said motor circuit switch, an energizing circuit for said energizable means, a switch in said energizing circuit, and a member mounted in the casing recess and operated automatically by the positioning of a container in said casing recess to receive the discharged material to close said switch in the energizing circuit and energize said energizable means to close the motor circuit switch.

3. In apparatus for treating material comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior surface a recess in which a container to receive the treated material is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute extending into said recess from the interior of the casing and arranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, a normally open switch in the motor circuit, energizable means operable to close said motor circuit switch, an energizing circuit for said energizable means, a switch in said energizing circuit, means in the casing recess operated automatically by the positioning of a container in said casing recess to receive the discharged material to close said switch in the energizing circuit and energize said energizable means, a second switch in the motor circuit, and means for closing said second motor circuit switch comprising a member manually movable into an operative position across the casing recess and in engagement with a container to prevent removal of the container so long as said member remains in said operative position.

4. In apparatus for treating material comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior surface a recess in which a container for receiving treated material is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute opening to the casing recess from the interior of the casing and ar ranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, a normally open switch the driving motor circuit, energizable means operable to close said motor circuit switch, an energizing circuit for said energizable means, a switch in said energizing circuit, and a member in the casing recess operated automatically by the positioning and removal of a container within and from said casing recess to receive the discharged material to respectively close and open said switch in the energizing circuit and thereby operate said energizable means to close and open the motor circuit switch.

5. In apparatus for treating material comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior surface a recess in which a container for receiving treated material is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute extending into said recess from the interior of the casing and arranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, a normally open switch in the driving motor circuit, energiaable means operable to close said motor circuit switch, an energizing circuit for said energizable means, a switch in said enerizing circuit, means operated automatically by 'the positioning and removal of a container within and from said casing recess to receive the discharged material to respectively close and open said switch in the energizing circuit and thereby operate said energizable means to close and open the motor circuit switch, a second switch in said motor circuit, and a member manually movable to operative and inoperative positions to respectively close and open said second motor circuit switch, said member when in said operative position being disposed across the casing recess and in engagement with a container therein so as to prevent removal of the container without first moving the member to its inoperative positionto open said second motor circuit switch and thereby stop the motorw 6. In material handling apparatus comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior surface a recess in which a container for receiving material is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute opening to said recess from the interior of the casing and arranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, energizable means for controlling the flow of current through the circuit to the motor, a

switch for controlling said energizable means, guide means in the casing recess for properly locating the container therein, and means for operating the switch controlling the energizable means comprising a member mounted in said casing recess and actuable into operative position to close said switch by the act of positioning a container in the casing recess with a wall portion of said container interposed between said guide means and said member.

'7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the member for operating the switch controlling the energizable means is pivotally mounted and eccentrically weighted so as to move automatically from its operative position and open said switch upon the removal of the container from said recess.

8. In apparatus wherein material is adapted to be treated and then discharged comprising a driving motor and a circuit for supplying electricity thereto to operate the same; a casing for said apparatus having in its exterior surface a recess in which a container for receiving treated material is adapted to be positioned, a discharge chute opening to said recess from the interior of the casing and arranged to discharge material into a container positioned in the recess, means in said casing and driven by the motor for feeding material to said discharge chute, energizable means for controlling the flow of current through the circuit to the motor, a switch for controlling said energizable means, guide means in the casing recess for properly locating a container therein, means for operating the switch controlling the energizable means comprising a member in said recess actuable into operative position to close said switch by the act of positioning a container in the casing recess with a wall portion of said container interposed between said guide means and said member, a second switch in the motor circuit, and means for closing said second motor circuit switch comprising a member manually movable into an operative position across said casing recess and in engagement with a container therein to prevent removal of the container so long as said member remains in said operative position.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the member for operating the switch controlling the energizable means is pivotally mounted and eccentrically weighted so as to move automatically from its operative position and open said switch upon the removal of the container from said recess.

FERDINAND G. HENRY. 

